1,720,965 research outputs found
Navigating Generative AI: Opportunities, Limitations, and Ethical Considerations in Massage Therapy and Beyond
No full textGenerative artificial intelligence (AI) has become a hot topic, particularly ChatGPT's quick adoption and popularity, prompting discussions about its disruptive potential in health care, education, and creative sectors. The author, an early adopter, shares personal insights on leveraging generative AI for creative tasks and communication challenges, while also exploring its role as a tool rather than an author. Opportuni-ties and limitations of integrating generative AI in the massage therapy field are explored, reflecting on the profession's reluctance to embrace technology and the potential efficiency gains. While acknowledging generative AI's creative promise, the importance of ethical and regulated utilization, highlighting data biases and limitations, is underscored. Overall, a balanced and responsible approach to incorporating generative AI into various domains is recommended
The Pillars of the IJTMB—Exploring TMB Education
No full textThis editorial is the final in a three-part series discussing the pillars of the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork: research, practice, and education. Highlighting the need for scholarly discourse, this piece aims to inspire therapeutic massage and body-work (TMB) educators to share their creative approaches to educational matters. The author advocates for a united effort to share knowledge and practices that will enrich TMB education and, ultimately, professional practice
Greetings from the New Executive Editor
No full textThis editorial marks a change in the Edi-torial Board of the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. The new Executive Editor/Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Amanda Baskwill, shares her gratitude for the outgoing journal leadership, an-nounces new Editorial Board staff, and identifies two initiatives for 2023
Research as a Pathway to Advancing Interprofessional Integration
No full textInterprofessional collaboration enhances health care by fostering communication, improving patient outcomes, and integrating diverse expertise. For therapeutic massage and bodywork (TMB) practitioners, engaging in interprofessional practice remains a challenge due to professional silos, limited research engagement, and other barriers to integration within health-care teams. This article explores the potential of research as a mechanism for strengthening interprofessional collaboration, positioning TMB practitioners as active contributors to evidence-informed health care. By fostering a stronger research culture, TMB can enhance its role within health-care systems, create new opportunities for integration, and contribute meaningfully to interdisciplinary patient care
Strengthening the Peer Review Process: A Guide to Resources and Best Practices for IJTMB Reviewers
No full textPeer review is a vital component of scholarly publishing, ensuring that research adheres to the highest standards of rigor, relevance, and integrity. For the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (IJTMB), peer reviewers play a critical role in advancing the field by providing constructive feedback and supporting the development of impactful research. This editorial outlines the expectations for IJTMB reviewers, emphasizing objectivity, inclusivity, cultural competence, and timeliness. Practical guidelines for conducting a thorough review are provided. Additionally, the editorial highlights key resources available to reviewers. By working together, reviewers, editors, and authors can strengthen evidence-based practice in therapeutic massage and bodywork
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
It’s Complicated: A Mixed Methods Study of the Professional Identity of Massage Therapists in Ontario
No full textBackground
Professional identity is a way in which individuals assign meaning to themselves and their contributions to society. The body of literature from across healthcare professions suggests that the sense of belonging that comes with a strong professional identity influences practitioners to act professionally and adhere to regulatory standards. Although all members of the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) call themselves (registered) massage therapists, there is disagreement about what they value and believe. Research that describes the professional identity of massage therapists in their own words may illuminate commonalities and form a shared model of identity.
Methods
An exploratory sequential mixed methods design was chosen to investigate the professional identity of massage therapists in Ontario. Qualitative description and quantitative survey methodologies were used, followed by a mixed analysis of both data sets.
Results
In the resulting description of professional identity, massage therapists believe they are healthcare providers. They value competence and currency with profession-specific knowledge and skill. They believe in the importance of communication to establish trust, create comfort, and empower patients. They are passionate about providing safe, effective, and individualized care. This study also confirmed that variation in professional identity exists within the profession that impacts values and beliefs.
Conclusions
This description is the first of its kind and will inform future research. Massage Therapy stakeholders can use this description to engage in discussions regarding whether these features adequately represent massage therapists’ beliefs and values. Variation in professional identity occurred due to differences in gender, practice setting, length in practice, and additional education, roles within the profession, and designation as healthcare professional. These variations present opportunities for future research to further the understanding of professional identity. Much remains to be discovered in this field of study, due to the complexity of professional identity.ThesisDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)Professional identity is a way in which individuals assign meaning to themselves and their contribution to society. Massage Therapy has been described as a profession divided and in need of articulating its identity. This research study was undertaken to describe massage therapists’ identity in Ontario. The research design consists of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, followed by a mixed analysis of both data sets. The resulting description is the first of its kind in the literature. Massage therapists are passionate about their profession, and value competence, the therapeutic relationship, individualized care, and patient empowerment. They desire to be recognized for their role within the healthcare system. While several areas of unity were identified, variation that impacts massage therapists’ values and beliefs was also discovered. These variations present opportunities for future research to further the understanding of professional identity. Much remains to be discovered in this field of study, due to the complexity of professional identity
Thank you to the IJTMB Authors, Reviewers, and Readers
No full textThis editorial reflects on the continued professionalization of therapeutic massage and bodywork (TMB) in 2024 through collaboration, growth, and enhanced communication, as highlighted by the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (IJTMB). Key achievements include the publication of high-quality articles and editorials that explore diverse areas of research, clinical practice, and education. We express deep gratitude to the authors, reviewers, readers, and funders who have supported the journal’s mission to advance the profession. Looking ahead to 2025, we invite continued contributions from our community and highlight an upcoming special edition on the intersection of mental health and massage therapy. As always, the journal remains a vital platform for sharing insights and fostering professional growth within the TMB field
Awareness of the Evidence for Practice of Registered Massage Therapists in Ontario
Full text linkBackground: Evidence-informed practice (EIP) is part of a healthcare ethos, in which practitioners apply evidence together with their expertise contextualized by the unique values of the patient. Studies about EIP focus on attitudes or confidence related to EIP. Individuals’ abilities to assess their own knowledge or performance are low. Therefore, a positive rating of attitude or confidence does not likely portray accurately the EIP knowledge or ability of the practitioner. It was hypothesized that awareness of evidence might be a more accurate measure.
Objective: This study sought to understand registered massage therapists’ (RMTs) awareness of the current evidence for practice and to identify sources of information that inform that awareness.
Methods: An online questionnaire-based mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted. Ontario RMTs were invited to participate. This report focuses on the results of the quantitative analysis.
Results: In total, 1,762 questionnaires were included; a 16.9% response rate. The mean awareness score was 9.4 ± 7.2. A multiple regression showed four factors that explained 4% of the variation seen in the awareness score: membership in the professional association (RMTAO), EIP attitude score, post-graduate education, and home-based practice.
Of seven sources of information provided, respondents rated cumulative professional experience as most important, followed by recent research studies and education. Cumulative professional experience also rated as most frequently used, followed by other RMTs and education.
Conclusions: This study investigated the level of awareness of evidence of RMTs. The results of the awareness score showed opportunity for improvement and require further investigation. Future research should explore other factors, which may show a better model of predictability of the awareness score. It is proposed that awareness of the evidence for practice might be a better predictor of use of evidence in practice than self-reported attitude or capacity but further research is needed.ThesisMaster of Science (MSc
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